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Champions of the Earth Award

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Supriya Sahu, a Tamil Nadu IAS officer honoured with the UN Environment Programme’s 2025 Champions of the Earth Award.

Do you know?

• In 2000, Supriya Sahu launched a campaign called Operation Blue Mountain to eliminate single-use plastic in the Nilgiris.
• She introduced low-cost climate solutions, from painting school roofs white under the Cool Roof Project to restoring mangroves, wetlands, and creating 65 new reserve forests.
• Her nature-first approach has created 2.5 million green jobs and contributed significantly to India’s national emissions-reduction goals.

Champions of the Earth Award

• Launched in 2005
• It is the UN’s highest environmental honor.
• It recognizes outstanding figures from the public and private sectors as well as civil society, whose actions have brought about a positive impact and a transformation on the environment.
• It is awarded across five categories:

1. Policy Leadership
2. Entrepreneurial Vision
3. Science and Innovation
4. Lifetime Achievement
5. Inspiration and Action (Supriya Sahu has been honored in this category).

• Past Indian recipients include: Madhav Gadgil (2024), Narendra Modi (2018), Cochin International Airport (2018) and Afroz Shah (2016).

Deepavali Added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Syllabus: GS1/ Culture

Context

• Deepavali has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee, held in New Delhi.
• India is hosting the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2025 in Red Fort complex, New Delhi.

Deepavali

• Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is celebrated on Kartik Amaavasya, which typically falls in October or Novem
• It is followed by Naraka Chaturdashi.
• The third day is the highlight of Deepavali- the sacred Lakshmi-Ganesha Puja.

Popular Legends of Deepavali

• In the Ramayana, it signifies the return of Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and their victory over Ravana, celebrated with lamps lighting their path.
• In the Mahabharata, it marks the return of the Pandavas after their exile.
• Naraka Chaturdashi recalls Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, symbolising the end of evil.
• Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankar, attained Nirvana on Deepavali at Pavapuri. Jain devotees celebrate this festival with enthusiasm as Nirvana Day.
• King Bali’s Return: In Maharashtra, Deepavali marks the visit of King Bali, symbolising justice and generosity.
• Kali Puja: In Bengal, Odisha and Assam, Deepavali coincides with the worship of Goddess Kali for protection and inner strength.

Connect with the basics – Intangible Cultural Heritage

UNESCO defines “intangible” as “expressions that have:

1. Passed from one generation to another.
2. Evolved in response to their environments.
3. Contributed to giving us a sense of identity and continuity.

• According to an official document by UNESCO, ‘intangible cultural heritage’ includes “oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.”
• To date, 16 Indian elements have been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List (including Deepavali)

1. Garba of Gujarat (2023)
2. Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021)
3. Kumbh Mela (2017)
4. Navroz (2016)
5. Yoga (2016)
6. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab (2014)
7. Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur (2013)
8. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir (2012)
9. Chhau dance (2010)
10. Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan (2010)
11. Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala (2010)
12. Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas (2009)
13. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre (2008)
14. Tradition of Vedic chanting (2008)
15. Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana (2008)
16. Deepavali (2025) – Recently added

World Inequality Report 2026 Released

Syllabus: GS2/Social Issues; GS3/Inclusive Growth

Context

• The 3rd edition of the World Inequality Report was released by the World Inequality Lab.

Key Findings of Report

• Wealth Concentration: The richest 10% of the global population own approximately 75% of the total wealth

Focus on India

• India is identified as one of the most unequal large economies globally.
• Income: The top 10% of earners capture 58% of the national income, while the bottom 50% receive only 15%.
• Wealth: The richest 10% hold around 65% of India’s total wealth, and the top 1% alone hold about 40%.
• Gender: Female labor force participation remains very low and stagnant at 15.7%

Aditya-L1 Joins Global Effort To Study the Solar Storm

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• India’s solar observatory Aditya-L1 has revealed unusual behaviour of the May 2024 solar storm called “Gannon’s storm”. It was triggered by a series of giant explosions on the Sun known as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).

Solar Storm

• The solar storm is composed of a series of giant explosions on the Sun, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
• A CME is like a massive bubble of hot gas and magnetic energy thrown out from the Sun into space.
• Impact on earth – When these bubbles hit Earth, they can shake earth’s magnetic shield and cause serious trouble for satellites, communication systems, GPS, and even power grids.

Additional information – Aditya-L1 mission

• Uniqueness – Aditya-L1 is the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun. It will be launched by the PSLV-C57.
• Note – The solar mission will not see the spacecraft actually go to the sun, it will instead create a space observatory at a point from which the sun can be observed even during an eclipse.
• The spacecraft is planned to be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1), around 1.5 million km from the Earth, of the Sun-Earth system.

Major objectives of the mission

• The mission will focus on study of the Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
• It will also identify what drives space weather, along with the origin, composition and dynamics of the solar wind.

Other missions to Sun

• NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, has already gone far closer — but it will be looking away from the Sun.
• Helios 2 solar probe, a joint venture between NASA and the space agency of erstwhile West Germany,was launched to investigate solar processes of the Sun’s surface in 1976.

Global Environment Outlook

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• The Global Environment Outlook, Seventh Edition: A Future We Choose (GEO-7), was released during the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi.

Global Environment Outlook (GEO)

• Published by – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Mandate – to provide a comprehensive assessment of the planet’s environmental health
• Significance – To bridge the gap between science and policy by providing data-driven insights and policy options to guide global action towards sustainable development
• Latest Edition: The 7th edition, GEO-7, titled “A Future We Choose”, was released in December 2025.

Key Findings of the GEO-7 Report (2025)

• Climate Change & Tipping Points: Global warming is accelerating, with the world already having warmed by approximately 1.3°C.
• Pollution & Health: Approximately 9 million deaths globally are attributed annually to air, water, and soil pollution. Air pollution alone causes millions of premature deaths each year.
• Biodiversity Loss & Land Degradation: One million species are at risk of extinction, and 20-40% of land is degraded, affecting over 3 billion people.

Swahid Diwas

Syllabus: GS1/History; GS2/Governance

In News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the courage of those who participated in the historic Assam Movement on Swahid Diwas.

Swahid Diwas

• It is observed annually on December 10
• Objective – to honour those who sacrificed their lives during the Assam Movement

Assam Movement

• It was a mass agitation launched in 1979 by the Assam Students’ Union (ASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) against large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh.
• The movement culminated in 1985 with the signing of the historic Assam Accord.
• The accord ensures detection and deportation of illegal foreigners and guarantees constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect Assamese identity, culture, and heritage.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised India’s growth forecast for FY26 to 7.2%, from 6.5%.
• About ADB
• ADB was established in 1966 as a regional development bank to promote social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific.
• Its headquarters is in Mandaluyong, Manila, Philippines.
• Its membership includes both regional (Asia-Pacific) and non-regional countries, with around two-thirds of UNESCAP members plus developed donor countries participating.
• India joined ADB in 1966 as a founding member.
• Major shareholders include Japan and the United States (15.6% each), followed by China (6.4%), India (6.3%) and Australia (5.8%), reflecting both regional and non‑regional stake.

GlowCas9

Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology

In News

• GlowCas9 is a newly engineered variant of the CRISPR Cas9 enzyme that emits light while editing DNA.

GlowCas9

• It is a bioluminescent Cas9 created at the Bose Institute, Kolkata, by fusing Cas9 with a split nano‑luciferase enzyme derived from deep‑sea shrimp proteins.

Connect with the basics – Gene Editing Technology

• It refers to technology that permits the change of an organism’s DNA by allowing genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome.

CRISPR Cas9 Technology

• Acronym – Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
• Significance – With the use of the gene editing technique CRISPR, researchers can modify the DNA of living things.
• An enzyme called Cas9 functions as molecular scissors, guided by RNA molecules created to precisely match a certain DNA sequence.
• GE (Genome Editing): Involves precise modification of specific genes within an organism’s genome without introducing foreign genes, resulting in targeted genetic changes.
• GM (Genetically Modified): Involves the insertion of foreign genes from unrelated organisms into an organism’s genome to confer specific traits or characteristics.

Regulatory Bodies

• GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee): It is a regulatory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).GEAC is responsible for evaluating and approving genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB): Ensures safe handling of GMOs that may impact biodiversity under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur.

CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP20)

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) has concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking the 50th anniversary of the Convention.

CITES

• Abbreviation – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora & Fauna
• CITES was conceptualized in 1963 at a meeting of the (IUCN) International Union For Conservation of Nature.
• Establishment – It came into force in 1975 and consists of 183 member-countries
• Headquarter – Geneva, Switzerland,
• Administered by – United Nations under its UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Wing.
• CITES is legally binding on the Parties; it does not take the place of national laws.

Appendices

• Appendix 1 – It lists species that are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by trade.
• Appendix 2 – This list includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
• Appendix 3 – It contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

Great Barrier Reef

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• A combination of extreme heat stress and a rare coral disease has wiped out 75 per cent of Goniopora colonies at a site on the Great Barrier Reef.

CORAL REEFS

• Coral reefs are the most biologically diverse ecosystems of the planet.

Formation & Symbiotic relationship – (Coral polyps + zooxanthellae)

• They are formed when Coral polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, develop a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae, which live in its tissues.
• Formation – Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to submerged rocks or other hard surfaces along the edges of islands or continents.
• The coral provides a protected environment and the compounds zooxanthellae need for photosynthesis.
• In return, the algae produce carbohydrates that the coral uses for food, as well as oxygen. The algae also helps the coral remove waste.

FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS FOR FORMATION

• Warm tropical oceans with minimum temperature of 20 degree (30 degree north and 25 degree south latitudes)
• Oceanic water free of sedimentation
• Transparent parts of ocean bodies
• Relatively low salinity ocean bodies

TYPES OF REEF FORMATIONS

• Fringing reefs – They are the most common, projecting seaward directly from the shore, forming borders along the shoreline and surrounding islands.
• Barrier reefs – Grow at border shorelines, but at a greater distance. They are separated from their adjacent land mass by a lagoon of open, often deep water.
• Atoll – If a fringing reef forms around a volcanic island that subsides completely below sea level while the coral continues to grow upward, an atoll forms. Atolls are usually circular or oval, with a central lagoon.

DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA

• The Gulf of Kutch

1. The West Coast of India
2. The Lakshadweep Islands
3. The Gulf of Mannar
4. Palk Bay
5. Andaman and Nicobar Group of Islands

THREATS

• Destructive fishing practices, Overfishing, Careless tourism, Pollution, Sedimentation, Coral mining, Climate change.

CORAL BLEACHING

• When corals face stress by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white. This phenomenon is called coral bleaching.

Causes of Coral Bleaching

Western Tragopan

Syllabus: GS3/Species

In News

• Recent studies show that suitable habitats of western tragopan exist in Jammu & Kashmir but human disturbance and fragmentation still threaten the bird’s survival.

Western Tragopan

• It is one of India’s rarest pheasants and Himachal Pradesh’s state bird.
• It now survives only in small fragmented pockets across the western Himalayas.
• The IUCN estimates only 3,000–9,500 mature individuals remain
• Threats: It faces threats due to habitat loss, hunting, and other anthropogenic factors.
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened species classified it as
• Conservation efforts – The Sarahan pheasantry in Shimla has over the years seen successful captive breeding of western tragopan.

Supreme Court’s Ruling on Narco Tests

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/Science and Technology

In News

• The Supreme Court ruled that forced or involuntary narco tests are unconstitutional and invalid.

Narco Test

• It is a process of investigation during which it is expected that the accused, undergoing such a test, would express the concealed facts.
• In this test the accused is sedated by administering a certain class of substances. For example – Sodium Pentothal, to reduce a subject’s inhibitions and reasoning ability.
• It is a non-violent method similar to those called polygraphs or brain mapping.

Legality of Narco Test

• Selvi guidelines – SC ruled that any test conducted without free consent is unconstitutional and its results cannot be used as evidence.
• Article 20 – It protects against ex-post facto laws, double jeopardy, and self-incrimination.
• Article 21 – It also violates the Right to Privacy under
• Articles 14 and 19 – It safeguards personal liberty and democratic principles.
• Manoj Kumar Saini v. State of MP (2023) and Vinobhai v. State of Kerala (2025) – SC court held that narco test results alone do not prove guilt and must be corroborated with other evidence.

India’s 1st Hydrogen Fuel Cell Passenger Vessel

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• India launched its first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel at Varanasi, marking a major step in green maritime transport.

India’s 1st Hydrogen Fuel Cell Passenger Vessel

• Built by – Cochin Shipyard Ltd and owned by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
• Hydrogen fuel-cell systems based on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology represent a key frontier in India’s clean energy and green mobility transition.
• A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen without combustion, making it a clean and efficient power source.

Importance

• The launch supports India’s net-zero by 2070 target and aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, promoting clean, sustainable waterways.
• The vessel offers noise-free, pollution-free travel, reduces road congestion, boosts tourism, and showcases fully indigenous green technology.

Red-Shanked Douc Monkeys

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• A passenger at the Kempegowda International Airport has been arrested for allegedly smuggling two Red-Shanked Doucs Monkeys.

Red-Shanked Douc Monkey(Pygathrix nemaeus)

• It is a highly colorful Old World monkey species, often called the “Queen of Primates”.
• Distribution: It is an arboreal, diurnal primate native to the forests of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
• Habitat – They live in the forest canopy in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests up to 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) in elevation.
• Appearance: They are known for their distinctive appearance including a gray body, maroon-red lower legs, white forearms and tail, and an orange-yellow face with light blue eyelids.
• Males are distinguished by white spots on their rump.
• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.

Subansiri Lower Hydel Project

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• The Environment Ministry has turned down a NHPC proposal to use assets located on forest land as collateral to raise funds for the Subansiri Lower hydel project.

Subansiri Lower hydel project.

• Location: On the Subansiri River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
• Situated at Gerukamukh on the Arunachal Pradesh–Assam border.
• Capacity & Type: It has a total installed capacity: 2,000 MW (8 × 250 MW).

Strategic Importance:

• Enhances clean energy generation in the Northeast.
• Strengthens grid stability and supports India’s renewable energy goals.

First Indigenous Diving Support Craft ‘DSC A20’

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• The Indian Navy is going to commission DSC A20, the first vessel of the indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Craft (DSC), at Kochi under the aegis of Southern Naval Command.

DSC A20

• It is one of five Diving Support Craft built by M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata.
• The ship offers superior stability, enhanced deck area, and improved seakeeping characteristics, and has a displacement of approximately 390 ton
• With its induction, the Indian Navy’s capability in diving support, underwater inspection, salvage assistance, and coastal operational deployment will be substantially strengthened.

National Makhana Board Holds First Meeting

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• A ₹476.03 crore Central Sector Scheme for holistic makhana development was rolled out during the National Makhana Board’s first meeting.

National Makhana Board

• Objective – to strengthen and modernize India’s Makhana sector.
• It is headquartered in Purnea, Bihar.

Makhana (Euryale ferox)

• It is a flowering plant classified in the water lily family (Nymphaeaceae).
• Climatic condition: Requires a temperature range of 20-35°C, and annual rainfall between 100- 250 cm.
• It is a fully organic non-cereal food found principally in India but also in Korea, Japan, as well as parts of eastern Russia.
• Bihar accounts for ~90% of India’s makhana production.
• GI Tag: In 2022, ‘Mithila Makhana’ was conferred a GI tag.

CoalSETU Policy

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The Union Cabinet has approved the CoalSETU Policy.

CoalSETU Policy

• Objective – It introduces a new system for coal linkage auctions aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and flexibility in coal allocation for industrial use

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

In News

• India showcased its achievements in rural development, women’s empowerment and climate-resilient agriculture at the IFAD–India Day event held in Rome.

International Fund for Agricultural Development

• Headquartered in Rome, Italy,
• It functions as a UN specialized agency established in 1977
• Objective – to combat rural poverty in developing nations through targeted financing.
• Significance – provides concessional loans, grants, and technical assistance primarily to smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and rural entrepreneurs, emphasizing agriculture, climate resilience, value-chain development, and livelihood diversification.

Project Suncatcher

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced Project Suncatcher, a long-term research initiative to deploy solar-powered data centres in space by 2027.

Project Suncatcher

• It is Google’s ambitious initiative to build solar-powered, AI-focused data centers in space using satellite constellations

Benefits        

• Environmental advantage: Eliminates the need for terrestrial land, water, and cooling systems required by traditional data centers.
• Continuous energy: Access to uninterrupted solar power for consistent operation.
• Resilience: Avoids risks from power outages, natural disasters, and undersea cable failures.

Challenges    

• Technical difficulties: Maintaining a tight satellite formation (within 1 km) for high-speed laser communication is complex.
• Operational hurdles: The high cost of building and maintaining space infrastructure and the difficulty of in-orbit repairs are major concerns.
• Environmental conditions: The hardware must be radiation-resistant and manage heat dissipation effectively in a vacuum.

SC widens ambit of POSH

Syllabus: GS2/ Polity & Governance

In News

• The Supreme Court has expanded the jurisdiction of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act),
• SC said that the complaints should be filed not just at the accused’s workplace but also at the complainant’s workplace or any employment-related site.

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH)

• Sexual harassment defined – Sexual harassment includes “any one or more” of the following “unwelcome acts or behaviour” committed directly or by implication: Physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favours, sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography, any other unwelcome physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
• Obligation – Every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at each office or branch with 10 or more employees.
• Complaint Committees – ICC has powers similar to those of a civil court in respect of summoning and examining any person on oath and requiring the discovery and production of documents.
• Time – The complaint must be made “within three months from the date of the incident”.
• Conciliation – The ICC may (at the request of the aggrieved woman) allow the matter to be settled through conciliation (but no monetary settlement allowed)
• Punishment – Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 50,000.

Cabinet Approves SHANTI Bill

Syllabus: GS3/ Energy

Context

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, titled SHANTI

SHANTI Bill

• Acronym – Sustainable Harnessing of Advancement of Nuclear Technology for India.
• Mandate – The Bill seeks to create a unified and modern legal framework for India’s nuclear sector.

About

• Traditionally, nuclear power plants in India have been owned and operated only by state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and its fully-owned subsidiary Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI).
• To allow private sector participation government has to amend key legislations;

1. Atomic Energy Act, 1962, a framework for nuclear energy development and regulation.
2. Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, ensuring compensation mechanisms for nuclear incidents.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Partial Opening of the Nuclear Value Chain: The Bill allows private and global companies to participate in atomic mineral exploration, manufacturing of nuclear equipment and components.
• Core and strategic areas such as reactor operation and weapons-related activities will continue to remain under government control.
• Nuclear Safety Authority: The legislation proposes the establishment of an independent nuclear safety authority.
• Dedicated Nuclear Tribunal: It calls for a dedicated tribunal to handle nuclear-related disputes, intended to streamline resolution and enhance transparency in the sector.

Cabinet Approves India-Oman Free Trade Pact

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• The Union Cabinet has approved the proposed Free Trade Agreement between India and Oman.

Highlights of the FTA

• With the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), India will get access to 98% of its products in Oman and significant access in services.

India-Oman Ties

• Diplomatic relations were formalised in 1955 and elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2008.
• Trade Relations: Oman is India’s 30th largest trading partner in FY 2023-2024 with total trade of US$ 8.947 billion.
• India is among Oman’s top trading partners and Oman is the third largest export destination among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
• India is the 4th largest market for Oman’s crude oil exports for the year 2023 after South Korea.
• Defence Cooperation: India and Oman conduct regular biennial bilateral exercises between all three services.

1. Army exercise: Al Najah
2. Air Force exercise: Eastern Bridge
3. Naval Exercise: Naseem Al Bahr

• Maritime Cooperation: Oman is at the gateway of Strait of Hormuz through which India imports one-fifth of its oil imports.
• India signed a pact with the country in 2018 to access the Duqm port of Oman.
• The Port of Duqm is situated on the southeastern seaboard of Oman, overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is strategically located, in close proximity to the Chabahar port in Iran.
• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

• It is a political and economic union of six Arabian Peninsula countries
• Members: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Establishment: Founded on May 25, 1981, through an agreement signed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Objectives: To achieve unity and coordination among member states in all fields, including economic, security, cultural, and social cooperation.
• Headquarters: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

India out of Pax Silica Initiative

Syllabus: GS2/IR, GS3/Economy

Context

• India has been excluded from the US-led Pax Silica initiative, a new US critical mineral diversification plan.

Pax Silica Initiative

• Objective – It is a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain from critical minerals.
• Members – Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Israel, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

Critical minerals

• Definition – Critical minerals are those minerals which are essential for economic development and national security
• The government has released a list of 30 critical minerals for India.
  • These minerals are Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE,Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium,Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.
  • The Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957) has identified critical and strategic minerals for the country.

Preah Vihear Temple

Syllabus: GS1/ Art & Culture

In News

• India has expressed concern over reports of damage to conservation facilities at the Preah Vihear temple complex.

Preah Vihear Temple

• Location – It is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Cambodia, near the border with Thailand.
• It was built mainly during the reigns of Khmer kings Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II (9th–12th centuries CE).
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package

Syllabus: GS2/ Welfare Scheme

In News

• The Supreme court extends ₹50 Lakh Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKY) insurance to all doctors who died on COVID.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package

• The PMGKP Insurance Scheme is a specific component under the larger Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, launched in March 2020.
• Coverage: Personal accident insurance cover of ₹50 lakh per eligible health worker.​
• Risks Covered: Death due to COVID-19 infection.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Syllabus: GS1/Personalities

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, on his 75th death anniversary (15 December 1950).

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• Born on – October 31, 1875,
• India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
• He is widely regarded as the architect of India’s national integration and a key force behind the establishment of modern civil services
• He was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in the country in 1991.

Contributions in India’s Freedom Struggle

• Kheda Satyagraha, 1917: As a prominent local leader in the Kheda district of Gujarat, Patel supported Mahatma Gandhi in organising the Satyagraha against unjust land revenue taxes imposed by the British.
• Non-Cooperation Movement, 1920-22: Patel significantly impacted the Non-Cooperation Movement, recruiting approximately 300,000 members and raising 1.5 million rupees.
• Bardoli Satyagraha, 1928: During the Bardoli Satyagraha, Patel supported the local population suffering from famine and increased land taxes.
• Civil Disobedience Movement 1930-34: He actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha, a nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly.
• Quit India Movement, 1942: He organised protests and strikes against British rule, and delivered compelling and electrifying speeches throughout India, inspiring and mobilising people to join mass protests, engage in acts of civil disobedience, boycott tax payments, and stage civil service shutdowns.

Bison Horn Maria Dance

Syllabus: GS1/ Culture

Context

• The traditional Bison Horn Maria dance was performed during a village festival at Judiya Para in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

Bison Horn Maria Dance

• Performed by: Dandami Madia (Maria /Gaur Maria) tribes of Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
• Both men and women perform the dance, during village festivals and major community occasions.
• Costumes: Male dancers wear horn-shaped headgear made of bamboo, decorated with bison horns, feathers, shells and bright cloth strips.
• Women wear brass chaplets and heavy necklaces.
• Instruments: Log drums slung around the neck provide rhythmic beats.
• Performance: Men mimic bison charging and hunting, while women dance alongside, often with sticks, in a synchronized, ritualistic way.
• Ritual chants invoke deities such as Budhadev and Danteshwari Mai, reinforcing spiritual continuity.

FDA Approves Two Oral Therapies to Treat Gonorrhea

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• The U.S. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved two new oral medicines to treat gonorrhea.

Gonorrhoea

• Pathogen – It is a preventable and curable sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
• Concern – Antimicrobial resistance to gonorrhoea is a serious and growing problem
• Transmission – Gonorrhoea can be passed from a pregnant mother to her baby.
• Diagnosis: Molecular tests, Gram stain microscopy.

Ponduru Khadi

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• Ponduru Khadi from Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh has received Geographical Indication (GI) tag recognition.

Ponduru Khadi

• It is a handwoven fabric primarily produced from short-staple, hill-variety, pest-resistant cotton grown locally.
• This cotton enables chemical-free farming practices, promoting sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly production methods traditional to the region.

Connect with the basics – Geographical Indication or GI Tag

• It is a name or a sign given to certain products related to a specific geographical location or origins like a region, town, or country.
• A certification for unique products – GI Tag may be regarded as a certification for a particular product with certain specific qualities or has a specific reputation because of its geographical origin.
• GI Tags can be issued for wine and spirit drinks, foodstuffs, agricultural products, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) – At the International level, GI is governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
• Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act – In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into force in September 2003.
• Darjeeling tea  – The first product in India to be accorded with the GI tag was Darjeeling tea in 2004-05.

MahaCrimeOS AI

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/AI

Context

• Microsoft Chairman Satya Nadella announced the statewide rollout of its AI-powered investigation platform for the Maharashtra Police “MahaCrimeOS AI”.

MahaCrimeOS

• Jointly developed by – Microsoft & Maharashtra Government and its specialised AI policing initiative, MARVEL (Maharashtra Research and Vigilance for Enhanced Law Enforcement).

Key Features and Functionality

• Instant Case Creation: The system enables instant digital case file creation, reducing manual effort.
• Multimodal Data Extraction: It can ingest complaints in various formats, such as PDFs, audio files, handwritten notes, or images, and extract relevant data for analysis.
• AI-Powered Investigation: Using AI-based Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), it helps investigators link related cases and analyze digital evidence rapidly.
• Legal Assistance: It provides contextual legal assistance and guidance based on India’s criminal laws, aiding officers in legal compliance and procedure.

Lunarcrete

Syllabus: GS3/Science & Technology

Context

• Researchers are developing Lunarcrete, concrete produced using lunar materials for sustainable long-term habitats on the Moon.

Lunarcrete

• Lunarcrete is an umbrella term for ‘concrete made on the moon’.
• It is a proposed construction material made using lunar regolith (Moon soil) instead of Earth-based sand and gravel.
• Purpose: It supports in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) by enabling construction of habitats, landing pads, and roads on the Moon without transporting materials from Earth.